Lookie Lou...

 ...our good buddies came back! I think they wanted to test out our new swimming hole before fall weather hit too hard. 

We found a stick house while hiking to the swimming hole at Chalk Ridge Falls.

See that graffiti? I think I'm going to name this Alexa and Eli's bridge.

Every kid except Nolan tried out the rope swing. Ellie and Ollie had to face their fears on climbing up to the rope, but everyone prevailed. 

After IKEA, we found Creamistry, a nitrogen ice cream shop. Sometimes you see contestants use liquid nitrogen on Food Network challenges and I thought it was super cool (get it??) to see in real life.

Backyard camping for the win! I think Micah may have been the most pleased by this arrangement because it freed up a bed for him. 

Only in Texas.

Back yard fire pit

I bought a romper on a trip to goodwill so I could match Addie in her romper love. (The one pictured is the third one she wore on the trip.) Ollie, Ellie, Micah, Sam... well pretty much everyone was not impressed with a 37 year old in a romper.  

More pandemic church. I think we filled a whole row.

Group Hippo picture time! 

We love you, friends!

School and Football Update

We've been busy! I've subbed 11 times in the last three weeks and probably have just as many days booked in the next three. Everyone is thriving at school. Thank you, Jesus!

Mrs. Tieman continues to send us pre-k pictures. Yay!

Nolan's 9 weeks award is for being a Brillant Builder. Way to go bud!

Ollie's was for all A's, Math, and Music. The music teacher fawns over him, much like at Waters. 

And the Hutto Lions saw their first win this past Saturday! Ollie was quite the quarterback, connecting with Owen multiple times for touchdowns!

Date Night!

Jon is continuing his reputation of being a lucky winner. He entered a contest and won tickets to see Shane Smith and the Saints live at the brushy creek amphitheater. We put Nolan to bed like normal and the big boys stayed up and watched at movie. We walked over to the show, with our cell ringers turned up high. You better believe I'm sighing with deep contentment over how easy the baby-sitting/night-out situation is turning into. 

It was a really fun evening! I don't listen to Texas country as much as Jon, but even I recognized a few songs. And if you are someone that is into a real mean fiddle, I would highly suggest checking them out. 

Masks off for pictures. ;)

Let's hold hands: LBK Guests

 A stream of people continues to visit us. It makes me feel so loved and my heart so happy. Our good friends Dan and Eryn were in town for other reasons, but we all were super glad they came over to see us as well. 

Lincoln and Noey were thrilled to spend time playing again. I love how they were unintentionally matching with black and red, and I believe Noey was even wearing hand-me-downs from Linc. Lincoln had a new stuffed animal he was bringing every where, so Nolan decided he needed one too.  

I don't need to tell you that I melted when Nolan asked Lincoln to hold hands. Gah, sweet boys. 

We have been going to church with Dan and Eryn and participating in community with them for over 6 years. (Maybe 7?) I knew Eryn before she ever ran a marathon. Our families have seen new kids, new houses, new dogs, new jobs, new diagnoses, new hardships, and new seasons of soccer together. I'm grateful for their faithfulness in both their love for Christ, and how they have steadily walked beside us. On the con list of moving, their family was high on the list. 

We have played a little game over the years where we try to hide a porcelain black box in the other families home. The box started as a loser's prize in bunko, which Jon rightfully had won, but since it was so ugly, I claimed the hosts couldn't take any prizes and we made Dan and Eryn (the second place losers) take it home. The most epic hides would have to be the time it was buried in a popcorn tin, and the time it made it's way into a moving box. When they came to visit I was planning to be on high alert because I figured they would try to sneak it in, but when they came I was so happy to see them that I totally forgot! When they were leaving at the very last minute, it crossed my mind and I got super suspicious when they were giving us a gift from a mutual friend. Dan casually said, "We don't have the black box." What??? I immediately assumed it meant that they got rid of it, because surely no sneaky business had gone on! Jon immediately assumed it was hidden in our house. But it never turned up! I didn't think much more about it until some other Lubbock friends confirmed that it is currently hidden in our house. I'm stymied! Where could it be? But I'm delighted. The game is afoot. Ha!

Love you, D.E.S.M.L.I! Come back and see us! 

Super Seth is 12!

To our first pre-teen, 

    It was so sweet to celebrate you this year! We rode our bikes around the neighborhood and handed out freshly printed invitations to 3 or 4 houses. It was the easiest but most successful birthday that we have ever had for you. Neighborhood kids piled in, ate pizza, ate cake, and watched you open a few presents. We tried to watch a Marvel movie, but everyone got way too wild so everyone chose to run around and play outside. The outside time was pretty much like every other evening. It was perfect. 

    We are so very proud of you, Seth! It's been quite fun to sit back and watch you continue to bloom. My heart is filled with joy, love, and exasperation daily. You are handling middle school like an absolute champ and when you come home and tell me stories about your day, my heart feels like it is going to explode. You are so bright, so strong. You desire to be helpful in all things.  

    This year you have requested participating in ninjitsu. I'm not 100% sure if we will re-join the realm of martial arts because it costs an arm and a leg and it is super time consuming. To us it seems that you are pretty much at your people limit with school and neighbors. You are in 6th grade pre-athletics and have said you hope to be on the basketball team next year. If you choose to follow through with that, they would be lucky to have you. You also got really excited about the idea of student council and applied to participate this year. No word yet on if you were chosen, but it speaks volumes about your desire to lead and serve.

We are always glad to be your second parents, Seth. We love you and are proud of you! 

Friday-isms

We have a huge mouse problem. Any tips out there? We've been putting out snap traps and poison with very successful results, but there seems to be no end in sight. When I walk the kids to school or go for a walk in the evening, I can hear skittering in the tall grass by the track field. Waaaay too much skittering. There is a spot on the front porch where they were nesting up, so I caulked the hole shut and then they chewed right through the caulk. It's time to shop for steel wool apparently. (Interesting tid bit: I dreamt about stealing steel wool last night. The brain design really is marvelous.) Mom, maybe it's time you passed on the mouse attack anniversary plate? 

I had my first day of subbing yesterday. It was easy and good fun. I'm looking forward to that being a regular part of my routine. And I'm looking forward to having a semi-socially acceptable reason to dress like Ms Frizzle. 

Some Noley Pie pics

I hung wallpaper in our pantry and I think it's so dreamy. I love it so much when random neighborhood kids reach in for a snack and comment on how good it looks. If you ever make your way to Minneapolis, you may find a twin pantry. (Thanks, Alexa for sharing your leftovers!!)

I've also been messing around with a gallery wall. I decided to hang up a bunch of stuff before painting because then I can eventually cover all my marks and all the mind changing holes. 

Calling all Avengers! We are celebrating Seth this weekend! Our good buddies, the Mikels, are also visiting this weekend. Whoop!!

Finally, Hippy and Go-Go wanted to show off their Halloween costumes.